Info about bus fares and passes for Nevada County Connects, the public bus system in Western Nevada County is at https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/2259/Fares-and-Passes

Discounted bus fare cards are available for qualified seniors, people with disabilities, and youth passengers. Children 5 years and younger ride free. The forms of identification listed below are required in order to be eligible for discounted fares. All applicants must have and show a valid photo ID.

Seniors

• Senior (65+)
  • A valid state Driver's License or picture/age ID card
  • A valid Medicare card (not Medi-Cal)
• Senior (80+) - Golden Ticket is a Lifetime Pass to the Nevada County Connects bus system (formerly Gold Country Stage) for seniors aged 80 and over. It provides the pass holder with unlimited free rides on all Nevada County Connects routes for the lifetime of the pass holder. Eligibility is open to all Nevada County seniors with proof of age (valid California ID card or Driver’s License). https://mynevadacounty.com/2259/Fares-and-Passes. The Golden Ticket pass is not for use on Nevada County Now paratransit services (formerly Gold Country Lift).

People with disabilities

• DMV printout showing the name for DMV Disabled placard
• A valid Medicare card (not Medi-Cal)
• ADA Paratransit eligibility card issued by County of Nevada Transit Services
• ADA or Disabled ID eligibility document issued by another transit agency
• Veteran's ID card with "SERVICE CONNECTED" or a Dept. of Veterans Affairs disabled veteran letter
• Single PCA (Personal Care Attendant) fare waived when accompanied passenger has approved Travel with PCA-ADA Paratransit Eligibility Card.

Youth

• Youth (6-17) fare is subject to age and photo identification. (School or age ID)

-------------------------------------
Low-Income Bus Pass Referral Program
Applicants can be referred to this program by any organization that can verify the applicant’s annual income. Nevada County Connects will not verify for an applicant.
 
Referring agency must use “Transit Services Division Low-Income Fare Subsidy Referral Form” available at https://nevadacountyca.gov/2259/Fares-and-Passes. Referrals can be submitted online or emailed to NevCoConnects@nevadacountyca.gov
 
Eligibility Criteria
1. Annual income of between 138 to 200 percent of Federal Poverty Level guidelines for the fiscal year.
2. Consumer may not be receiving transit benefits from another funding source currently (i.e. block grant, CalWorks etc). These funds may not supplant/replace funds currently used to provide transit benefits.
3. Duration of eligibility is six months. 

Notes:

• The turnaround time from submitting the completed form to receiving the pass can be up to two days, but generally it is a day.
• The consumer can pick up the pass at the Multi Use Building (MUB) office at the Tinloy Transit Center, 118 Tinloy St., Grass Valley, or the sponsoring agency may dispense it themselves (this is how FREED, NC Behavioral Health, and others do it)
• People are eligible if they have no income and/or are experiencing homelessness as long as they are not eligible for transit benefits through another program (i.e. block grant, CalWorks etc).
• Consumers can re-apply after 6 months via the sponsoring agency. Income verification is still required.